Johnny Greaves 2005 Pro-4 CORR Champion!
Rounds 1 & 2 ~ May 21 – 22 ~ Lake Odessa I-96 Speedway, MI
The I-96 Speedway is new to the CORR Series in 2005. A one-mile track built around a dirt oval. Johnny has raced here in prior years, and was happy to come back. They have a nice facility with a huge set of grand stands overlooking the entire track.
Saturday brought beautiful skies, and sunny 70 degree weather. Track conditions for Pro-4 were dry and very dusty. Officials tried watering for earlier classes but the track was then slick & greasy, making them reluctant to do to much.
The Pro-4’s created a dust storm within seconds after the checkered flag dropped. Johnny got a sixth place start, and worked his way to second by the end of the first lap. Dust conditions had everyone driving blindly.
On lap 3, Johnny received a hard hit from Carl Renezeder pushing him off the track and spun out. Reacting quickly, Johnny was back on the track, and by half of a lap he caught back up to first and second. From that point on multiple dust situations caused Johnny to lose ground, but the Tundra always regained position behind one and two. Dusty conditions then caused Baldwin to miss a turn going into the infield leading the remainder of the pack following him, including Johnny.
Trying to make up time to regain his position, Johnny hit the woops wide open, hitting a kicker which caused the truck to lose control, sending the Tundra thru the air cart wheeling, but eventually landing on its tires. Johnny and the badly damaged Tundra limped around the track finishing in fifth place.
Working diligently until late hours, the Potawatomi crew was able to fix the Tundra and have it ready for Sunday. Morning practice went well and left the crew feeling optimistic about the race. By mid-morning the skies turned gray and it began to rain. This continued all day until shortly before the Pro classes began. By the time the Pro-4’s were ready to go, the track was still a little slick, but overall not bad.
Johnny had a great start, leading the race by turn two. On lap three, going into a left hand turn very aggressively the Tundra caught a rut, and before Johnny could react he was back over again. Johnny was able to continue the race, finishing with a seventh.
Not a great way to start 2005, but the team is optimistic, and are confident they will be back in front again in three weeks in Antigo, WI.
Rounds 3 & 4 ~ June 11 – 12 ~ Antigo, WI
You all have probably heard already thru the Greaves Grapevine, that the Forest County Potawatomi Toyota team had another trying weekend. I’m going to keep the report short and sweet, as there is not much good to say.
Saturday’s race day started off bad from the first lap when Johnny got into a tangle with Toyota teammate Rick Huseman. It seemed like forever before the two trucks were separated. Johnny finished out the remaining laps strong, with a 5th place finish. As the weekend continued, weather was very severe at times through most of Saturday.
Sunday the sun finally peeked, and the day was beautiful. Johnny had a good start position. The Toyota truck got out front, and advanced to a 15 second lead over 2nd place. However, a belt problem brought his lead to a screeching stop, when the motor ultimately failed and Johnny’s weekend ended in another sour note!
We hope our luck is about to change…next race, Crandon, Wisconsin. Crandon also brings the Forest County Potawatomi Governors Cup race on Sunday, June 26th.
Hope you can come visit, we love and need our fan support!!
Rounds 5 & 6 ~ June 25 – 26 ~ Crandon, WI
Johnny goes 1-2 and springs back into the points chase!!
Rounds 7 & 8 ~ July 8 – 9 ~ Topeka, KS (Night Races) Johnny 6-1, and 3rd in points!
Topeka was very hot and dry at 92 degrees. The track is short with approximately 35-second lap times. Johnny started in the second row and when the green flag dropped, the Tundra was slow off the starting line. A problem in the fuel management system caused the motor to misfire, so the truck had a delayed start. Johnny was now in the back of the pack. However, within a couple laps the Tundra began to run better and the engine cleaned out. Proceeding to work his way up, contact with another driver caused a gear to go in the transmission. Johnny decided he needed to save the truck and finish the race, to keep himself in the points. Johnny ended up in 6th place. The team met together and a decision was made to give the Tundra a complete overhaul. The engine, transmission, transfer case, and front & rear gears were all replaced.
When practice was over, Johnny was confident the Tundra was running strong. Being cautious in the start to avoid contact, Johnny started mid pack. Johnny waited for the pack to sort out, and then proceeded to pick off competitors one by one. By lap 12 of 24, Johnny made his way to second with the leader, Jason Baldwin, having a 6 second lead. Johnny, driving aggressively to catch Jason, was soon on his rear bumper. Johnny began to pressure him with a couple inside attempts. Eventually Baldwin went wide, and Johnny made the pass. With 3 laps remaining, the Tundra began to make noise in the tranny, Johnny decided to conserve the truck, leaving it in 4th gear in hope that nothing would break. Johnny and his Tundra hung on, and pulled off the win!
The team is now third in points, and working their way up.
Rounds 9 & 10 ~ August 13 – 14 ~ Bark River, MI
DOUBLE WIN MOVES JOHNNY INTO 2nd PLACE!!
Bark River was good for the Toyota Potawatomi team, ending the weekend with two wins and moving up another position in the points. The team had just come off a four week break, where they had the time to make changes and test. This left them very confident coming into the Bark River weekend. The weather was absolutely beautiful, and the Bark River Lions crew did a terrific job keeping the track in mint condition.
Saturday’s race was fairly uneventful. Johnny got a third place start, quickly maneuvered his way to first and then continued the race flawlessly, finishing with an 18 second lead!
Sunday, however, kept everyone on the edge of their seats. Johnny lost his 4-wheel drive at the drop of the green flag, and coasted into the first turn in last place. Johnny, now in the infield, acted very quickly and soon had the Tundra back ready to race. 15 seconds back from the rest of the pack Johnny was relentless in getting his Tundra back in the winner’s circle. Gaining a position almost every lap around the track, Johnny soon found himself in second place.
Curt Leduc was leading with a comfortable 7 second lead, but Johnny continued to push hard. When Curt Leduc lost 4-wheel drive, resulting in a spin out, Johnny took full advantage and was able to capture the lead giving him his second win of the weekend!
Thanks to all our friends, and support that made the trip to Bark River.
Next race, September 3-4, Labor Day weekend, Crandon, WI. Hope to see you there!
This race weekend was dedicated to an important part of our crew, Lynn Greaves. Lynn had emergency surgery a few days prior to the weekend, and had to remain in the hospital. Lynn is the real hero for how tough she has been throughout her ordeal.
Rounds 11 & 12 ~ September 3 – 4 ~ Crandon, WI
Rounds 13 & 14 ~ September 24 – 25 ~ Chula Vista, CA – JOHNNY GREAVES: 2005 PRO-4 CHAMPION!!
Chula Vista, California brought an end to the series, and the battle for the championship. The Chula Vista track was smooth and fast, making it difficult to pass or gain time on other competitors.
With an 11-point lead going into race one, our game plan was to try and get to the front but to remain careful to avoid any chance of not finishing the race. Johnny started with a fourth-place start. He quickly moved into third, where he watched the battle between first and second. When the time was right, Johnny passed Baldwin, and started to real in Renezeder. Two laps from the finish Johnny made an aggressive move on the inside of Renezeder, capturing his sixth win in a row!
At day two of racing the Greaves team was left in a pretty good position. Calculations were figured, and Johnny had to complete just one lap to clinch the championship. The decision was to let the pack take off in the start, and Johnny was to hang back and complete his lap, then get back into the race. Johnny expected he was going to have to make a complete charge if he was going to catch up to the leaders. As Johnny worked his way through the pack, he found himself in third place with four laps to go. Debris on the track eventually started causing flats, first Renezeder and Baldwin, then Johnny. The race soon became very intense. Johnny eventually got around both drivers, and nailed another win and the championship!!
Johnny ended the season with 8 wins, 7 of them in a row, setting a new CORR record!! Johnny also currently holds the most all time wins in CORR with 45, and he also won the 2005 Precision Gear Driver of the Year award! Greaves, with help of fellow teammate Rick Huseman, also captured the 2005 Manufacturer Cup for Toyota!
We want to thank all of our sponsors, friends, family, and fans that have supported us throughout the year. It wouldn’t have been possible without everyone’s effort!